sextant
sextant
The sextant is a navigational instrument for measuring the angle between the horizon and some object in the sky. First a sailor looks at the horizon through an eyepiece. At the same time he can see light from the sun or a star reflected off a small mirror on top of the instrument, onto a second mirror and into the eyepiece
The sextant is a navigational instrument for measuring the angle between the horizon and some object in the sky. First a sailor looks at the horizon through an eyepiece. At the same time he can see light from the sun or a star reflected off a small mirror on top of the instrument, onto a second mirror and into the eyepiece
The navigator can then see two images, the horizon and the sun side by side. He can then measure the angle between them on a scale at the bottom of the instrument. The scale goes from 0 to 120 degrees. An earlier instrument, called a quadrant, measured in angle in the same way but it could only measure angles from 0 to 90 degrees
The navigator can then see two images, the horizon and the sun side by side. He can then measure the angle between them on a scale at the bottom of the instrument. The scale goes from 0 to 120 degrees. An earlier instrument, called a quadrant, measured in angle in the same way but it could only measure angles from 0 to 90 degrees
nautical chart CcHantojr A⊙ ) cabbage ey
nautical chart
Nautical charts are maps of the depth of the sea and the currents of the oceans. They provide modern sailors with routes through the seas, rather like roads through the countryside The information began to be collected in the nineteenth century and has continued to be updated ever since. These charts were not available to Captain Bligh or Zheng He
Nautical charts are maps of the depth of the sea and the currents of the oceans. They provide modern sailors with routes through the seas, rather like roads through the countryside. The information began to be collected in the nineteenth century and has continued to be updated ever since. These charts were not available to Captain Bligh or Zheng He